Touched by Type 1 Dazzles with Expression and Meaningful Resources

If you're active on social media and live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), you may be familiar with Touched by Type 1's distinctive purple branding. While many organizations in the type 1 diabetes community use blue, Touched by Type 1 sets itself apart. This nonprofit is not only changing perceptions but also making a tangible difference in the lives of those with T1D. 

Dancing Through Her T1D Diagnosis

Touched by Type 1 started as a community fundraiser at a middle school. Founded in 2000 as Dancing for Diabetes, it has grown into a nationwide agency dedicated to raising funds and inspiring the 1.9 million Americans living with type 1 diabetes.  Elizabeth Forrest, the organization’s founder, was diagnosed with T1D at age 10 in her home state of Florida.

“It came without warning,” Elizabeth shared on Touched by Type 1’s blog. “One day, I was a kid playing with my younger sisters, enjoying school, and living in the carefree rhythm of childhood, and the next, I was being taught how to inject insulin, count carbohydrates, and monitor blood sugar.”

T1D became a part of Elizabeth’s daily life forever. 

Starting a nonprofit wasn’t something she could have envisioned at age 10. Then again, she didn’t expect to be diagnosed with T1D either. Instead of letting the autoimmune condition hold her back, she used it as motivation to move forward. Passionate about dancing, she leveraged her diabetes as a way to express herself throughout her diagnosis and beyond.

“I was observant,” Elizabeth said. “I watched everything closely and was deeply aware that life as I knew it had changed. More than anything, I felt unsettled by the unknown. But rather than let fear paralyze me, it sparked a determination: a desire to learn more, to understand what was happening, and to find some way—any way—to take action.”

Instead of derailing her, Elizabeth’s T1D diagnosis inspired her first Dancing for Diabetes performance—now one of the organization’s signature events—performed on the driveway of her childhood home. From there, it became history.

Today, Elizabeth and her team are committed to sharing the stories of Americans living with type 1 diabetes. She and her team aim to support the T1D community in big and beautiful ways while raising funds to find a cure.

Touched by Type 1 Conference Sparks Inspiration

One of the ways the Touched by Type 1 team encourages others is through its conference. The organization just celebrated its 8th annual conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The event, which began in 2017, is designed for people living with T1D, their families, caregivers, and health care professionals. The conference is at no cost, and features nationally recognized keynote speakers, breakout sessions and an exhibition hall that showcases the latest in diabetes technology, products, and services.

This year’s exhibitor hall highlighted organizations like TrialNet, Transcend, Sanofi, Juicebox Podcast, Glucose Projector, Genteel, The Insulin Chiller, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), You’re Just My Type 1, Breakthrough T1D (Formerly JDRF), Palmr, Omnipod, the Diabetes Research Institute, Blue Circle Health, and more!

There’s a fun zone for kids, volunteer opportunities, and speakers covering a variety of topics. This year’s sessions included information about being bold with insulin, staying active with T1D, having honest conversations about life with T1D, trusting your gut instincts with T1D, insights on the latest diabetes research, and more!

Also, attendees can join the Touched by Type 1 Annual Conference Facebook Group to stay connected. This group is a place to meet other attendees, ask questions, get real-time updates, and share the excitement! It’s a welcoming space for new or returning guests to feel included in the conversation.

Impactful Programming Emphasizes T1D Support

The excitement continues year-round with Touched by Type 1. Touched by Type 1 has a robust program suite for people impacted by T1D, including:

Beyond the Diagnosis Film

The Beyond the Diagnosis Film is an immersive, feature-length documentary that explores the lives of individuals with T1D. It weaves together powerful personal narratives to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and inspire hope.

D-Box

The D-Box is for newly diagnosed children and adults with type 1. The Touched by Type 1 team understands there’s a lot of information to process after diagnosis, and they aim to make things easier from the start. The D-Box includes supportive materials and essential resources to help people with T1D succeed from the beginning of their journeys.

Dance Program

Touched by Type 1’s Dance Program supports kids and teenagers with T1D to engage in a series of creative dance classes. It’s free of charge and offers space for them to express themselves without T1D taking the main stage!

Golfing Fore Diabetes

The Golfing Fore Diabetes event will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Shingle Creek Golf Club. Every swing will make a difference for individuals and families impacted by T1D! This event will combine community, fun, and a mission to raise awareness and support individuals with T1D. It’s never too early to think about swinging for a cause that matters!

This touches the surface of Touched by Type 1’s resources and programs. In addition to these incredible events and initiatives, they also offer articles, scholarships, insulin and diabetes supply assistance, and information on early screening for type 1 diabetes. By following the group on social media, you’ll also find more intimate local events throughout the year, such as mom’s coffee chats and family picnics.

Dancing for Diabetes

Touched by Type 1’s annual Dancing for Diabetes show features award-winning and nationally recognized dancers. The event inspires hope, provides entertainment, and raises funds that align with Touched by Type 1’s mission pillars. The next benefit show is scheduled to take place this November.

School Initiative - A Letter from T1Ds

In addition to the many resources Touched by Type 1 offers, the website provides a letter for parents and children to download to help navigate their school year in a safe environment. The friendly discord creates a way to explain what type 1 diabetes is to teachers and classmates.

Community Members Touched by Type 1

If you haven't experienced Touched by Type 1 yet, take a glimpse into the impact of their work from some community members:

• @nickroccanti: “Such a huge impact for the T1D community!”
• @faylnshilts: “Thank you for all that you do! How can we help?!”
• @typezerofoundation: “This is amazing! This will help out so many people with diabetes.”
• @bluecirclehealth: “We’re so proud to be a part of this!”

Whether you want to participate in one of Touched by Type 1’s upcoming events, support them as a volunteer, or take advantage of one of their offerings, you can find everything you need on their Connect page.

Type 1 diabetes is a delicate dance, but one the Touched by Type 1 team is helping the T1D community perform with grace and comfort.